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PROVO -- As BYU football is staring down the barrel of the worst start to the season since 1973, everyone is looking for answers to the Cougars' struggles on the field.
From 2006-2009, the football team made school history with four consecutive years of 10-plus wins per season. So what has gone wrong? Senior defensive end Vic So'oto thinks it's a matter of leadership---his, that is.
"I don't think the [younger] guys know how much work was put in to have these string of seasons [2006-2009]...go how they did" said So'oto. "And it's actually my fault and all our seniors' fault for not bringing these guys along and letting them know what it is to play BYU football the way we should play."
Junior wide receiver McKay Jacobson thinks that's a valid point.
"I don't think we've got enough guys on the team who've been here long enough and we've just got to help out those guys," Jacobson said.
Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall is ready to take some responsibility as well.
"I told them basically that my responsibility was to help them play at a higher level... I would hope that I could ask more of myself and our staff to get the improvement necessary."
Mendenhall recognizes that getting his players to a higher level doesn't come with just high-fives and motivational speeches. With the firing of Defensive Coordinator Jaime Hill, Mendenhall has asked more of himself. He is taking a more hands-on approach to get production out of his players by taking over the defensive play-calling responsibilities.
The Cougars face San Diego State next Saturday and it remains to be seen whether some senior leadership will be the solution BYU is looking for.
